DC Independent Film Festival (27)

Festival start: 10 February 2027      Festival end: 15 February 2027

DCIFF brings together passionate artists, filmmakers, critics, curators, and film enthusiasts for a celebration of independent filmmaking. Like previous festivals, we continue to be an essentially volunteer-run festival. All submissions fees support festival programming.

The 2027 festival is entirely in-person in Washington, DC. Acceptance into DCIFF 2027 assumes your attendance and active involvement in the festival experience.

DCIFF, the oldest independent film festival in Washington DC running since 1999, has been a FILM FORUM since 2022 ( a competitive film festival with in-depth conversations around film, filmmaking and animation) with a storied history of presenting extraordinary films. We showcase cutting edge features, animation, experimental, shorts, and documentaries on every subject, from every country, and with every budget imaginable. Our mission is to forward films and careers and we are thrilled with the success of our alumni.

Our standard awards are:

Best of Fest
Best International
Best of Metro DC
Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Feature Film
Best Feature Documentary
Best Web Series
Best Animation (Short and Feature) with a dedicated jury
Impact Award (Staff Recognition)

New to 2027: Best Vertical Short Film

Some Awards may have up to $1,000 Awards attached, but we will update.

At DCIFF there are: a dedicated late night/horror program. a full animation program, seminars and industry events.

We welcome submissions in the following categories:

◾ Narrative features
◾ Short films
◾ Documentaries (feature and shorts)
◾ Animation + Experimental (up to 2 hours)
◾ Web Series Pilots or Episodes
◾ Works in Progress
◾ Vertical films
◾ High School Student Film Showcase and Competition (films up to 20 mins.) - The Y-CAM at DCIFF High school Film Festival HAS A SEPARATE Festhome application portal. Please submit there, not here.

DCIFF AI Statement: We are not against filmmakers using traditional AI in the making of their films, but we will not accept generative AI that substitutes human creativity for 100% machine-derived digital content that may also be a theft of a human being's creative work. To this end, you will be asked to confirm how you have used AI in your projects when you submit. In general, DCIFF will turn down:

a) films where the storyline and script were generated by AI.

b) films that have used avatars rather than real actors.

c) animation and film AI content, platforms and systems that have been flagged as intellectual theft.

d) any documentary film that has used any AI in any of its content.

Stipulations: We put great effort and time into promoting the films selected for screening and competition and have aided many a filmmaker on the road to success, awards, distribution, and networking, but we can only do so if the following rules are followed:

Metro DC Theater Film Premieres are required (we may accept films that have had private screenings in DC, ask us please). East Coast and US Premieres preferred. We understand that filmmakers from Metro DC find it hard to not show their films to their communities and it can happen that we turn a great film down because this was done, advertised and promoted. We suggest you contact us to discuss if you are in this situation. We achieve excellent press outreach and this is only possible if we can assure a DC premiere.

No restrictions for films screened online at other festivals, but free screenings of films left online we will not be accepted. You can still submit, but we will require the film to be removed from being online for six weeks up to and including our forum.

All films to be completed within 12 months of the date of submission: AFTER September 10, 2025. If your film is a work in process, submit in that category please as otherwise we may accept submission but may remove a film from final selection if it is not completed by the end of December 2026.

DCIFF Alumni - To qualify for submission in an alumni category, we must have screened one of your films in a previous DCIFF festival. With your submission, please include the title of your screened film and the year it was shown.

Films in Distribution: If you are a distributor or your film is ruled by a distribution contract, please make sure that you can screen this without a screening fee. DCIFF does not pay screening fees but we do everything we can to bring filmmakers and talent to attend the festival.

By submitting your film to DCIFF you are agreeing to the following conditions:

- I am authorized to submit this film to the Washington, DC Independent Film Festival for consideration and have read, understood and agreed to all entry requirements.

- By submitting my film for consideration, I grant permission to DCIFF to use any 3 minute portion of my film and related materials for promotion in all media, including DCIFF catalogues, flyers, posters and the DCIFF website.

- I understand that no film accepted for screening in competition at DCIFF may be withdrawn without the express written permission of DCIFF after January 10th, 2027. In the event that a screening print is not delivered or in the case of technical issues, DCIFF reserves the right to screen publicly the DVD or digital backup submission file unless other arrangements have been made with you, the filmmaker.

- I promise to contact DCIFF immediately regarding any changes to the information above, including distribution, Premiere status of my film or exhibition format. Failure to provide complete and updated information or failure to submit an exhibition copy of my film by January 20th, 2027 may cause the elimination of my film from competition.

- All rights and permissions are in place for my submission (it is the sole responsibility of the applicant to obtain any and all necessary rights and permissions).

- I am DULY authorized to submit this film to the Washington, DC Independent Film Festival and its competition (“DCIFF”) and I have read, understood and agreed to all entry requirements.

- If DC Premiere status changes without DCIFF being informed, I understand that DCIFF reserves the right to remove my film from the program.

- By submitting to the festival, I am showing interest in taking part in DCIFF 2027 should our film be selected. I intend to attend the festival.

- All of the above information and statements are accurate.